Fluid compressor



June 2, 1942. y A. J. Lorz FLUID COMPRESSOR Filed June 8, 19259 INVENTOR.

QZ y

` ATTORNEY.

June 2, 1942. A. J. I oTz FLUID COMPRESSOR Filed June 8, 1939 4 HSheets-Shea?I 2 ATTORNEY.

Junefz, 1942. A, 1 LOTZ 2,285,215

FLU'ID COMPRESSOR l Filed June 8, 1959 sheets-sheet s QH N N QH L@ QD @o @l Q @I N C. u) @D Q y ||l. x E l l Q JV :o N i O Q Y w E@ QH Y L\. m I I 'l lo@ Q lilll h, QH

i QH v gv b n INVENToRgg C99 /O/tz, M25? ATTORNEY.

June 2, 1942. y .1. LoTz l' 2,285,215

' V FLUID COMPRESSOR Filed June 8, .1959 4 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented June 2,1942

UNITED STATES lPATENT GFFICE 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to fluid compressors, such as those generally referred to as diaphragm pumps, but applies also to the sliding piston type, and the term piston" is herein used generically to comprehend both types.

In pumps of this type where the power vshaft is mounted in bearings carried by the supports. it has been found that itis practically impossible to have the axes of the bearings and the axis of the shaft exactly coaxial, and there is such abinding as to bend or tend to bend the shaft with the result of breaking it. In the present invention, wherein a motor is preferably used to drive the pumps, the end portions of the motor shaft extend freely from the ends of the motor and to theseI free end portions of the shaft are connected to the connecting rods of the pistons,

" as by way of crank means, such as eccentrics,

cranks, cams, mechanical movements, and the like. The motor itself is fixed to the supports, and while the free end portions of the shaft may pass through the motor mountings carried by the support, they are nevertheless freeftherefrom, and there is no possibility of the end portions of the shaft being stressed or strained by the' supports or the mountings carried thereby.

Among the objects'of the invention is to provide a rigid unitary structure. Suchstructure comprises the motor and its housing, the supports or supporting standards which are rigid I with the motor housing-the pumps rigid with the supports, and a compressed fluid duct rigidly secured to the pumps. By securing these parts Other objects, capabilities, advantages, features and the like are comprehended by the invention as will later appear, and as are inherently possessed by the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the de vice with the enclosing casing shown in section;

together, a single and unitary rigid structure is l produced. A handle may be secured to this rigid unitary structure whereby the device as a whole The duct mentioned above is made portable. connects the pressure fluid discharge chambers of the pumps to establish free communication therebetween. At the ends of the motor shaft are preferably secured fans for causing circulation of air around and about the unit. v A

' Another object of` the invention is to provide a novel 1casing for enclosing the unit, this cas-v ing comprising an upper wall portion, side walls, and end walls. The side and end walls preferably extend to the base of the unit, with or Without a lower or base wall beneath the unitary structure and normally closing the opening at the base of the casing. The end walls have air inlets fnear the fans and the side walls have air outlets near the pumps and remote from the fans so that thorough circulation of air may be effected within the casing and around and about the unit.

Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation of the same, the casing being shown in section, as taken in a plane represented by line 2 2 in Fig. 5 of the drawings; l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the upper part of the device, showing the mode of attaching the handle and the casing;

Fig. 4 is a spaced assembly view of the principal parts of the unitary structure;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view on an enlarged scale, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the device;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken in planes represented by line 6-6 in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

Fig; 'l is a similar view taken in planes represented by line 'I-I in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken in a plane represented by line 8 8 in Fig. 6 of the drawings;

Fig. 9 is a spaced assembly perspective view ofthe operating parts of the pump; and

Fig. 10 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of part of the pump.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown in the form of a unitary structure and as comprising spaced supports or standards I (see Fig. 4) surmounted by pumps 2 and having bases 3 suitably secured, as by bolts, to resilient feet l, such as rubber or the like. Each supporting standard I has an integral web plate portion 5 strengthened by suitable reinforcing ribs, and has a mounting hub 6 of the split type capable of clamping action by means of a clamping bolt 1 extending through integral lugs 8 of the split hub 6. l In the space between the standards I isa motor `9 having a housing provided with integral hubs I0 at both ends of the motor housing. Rigid Iwith these hubs are mounting hubs I I adapted to fit into the mounting hubs 6 of the standards. When the hubs Hare clamped in the mounting hubs 8 by tightening the clamp lbolts 1, the motor 9 and the supports I are held rigidly together as a rigid unit.

Each support has at its upper end an integral, annular part I2 forming the base of the pump 2.

To this base the upper part I3 of the pump is secured by bolts I4. Between the pumps 2 is a duct I6 of straight tubular form, the open ends ofV which are slidably connected into the packing hubs I6 of the pumps and rigidly secured in place by the packing gland nuts I1 (see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and Thus it will be seen that this assembly is a single and unitary rigid structure comprising the motor 9 rigidly mounted in the supports I, the supports I, the pumps 2- rigidly bolted to the upper ends of the standards I, and the duct I5 rigidly secured to the pumps.. This makes for a very compact unitary construction.

To the pumps 2 are secured stud bolts I8 for slidably receiving the sockets I9 of a handle 20, the latter being held clamped in place by nuts 2l threaded to the free ends of the stud bolts I8. Each handle socket I9 has asleeve 22 threaded at its lower end to a nut 23 seating upon the top of the pump 2.

Each pump 2 comprises a piston having a pair of rigidplates 24 and 25 (see Fig. 8) and a ilexible diaphragm 26, such as leather or the like, clamped at its inner portion between these plates, and having its marginal portion clamped between an annular shoulder 21 of the annular part I2 and the border 28 of a platen 29 (also see Fig. The marginal part of the diaphragm 26 and the border 28 of the platen t within the flange 30 of the annular part I2, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The plates 24 and 25 are secured together to clamp the diaphragm by a screw 3I threaded into the head 32 of the connecting rod 33, the head 32 being in thrust engagement with the central part 34 of the plate 25 (Fig. 8).

The platen 29 has a marginal upstanding ange 35 upon the rimlof which seats the pump head 36 which is in the form of a convex plate, and between which and the platen 29 is provided an air admission chamber 31. The flange 35 has a plurality of notches 38 which serve as air inlet ports for the chamber 31. The head 36 has a depending annular flange 39 concentric with and spaced from the platen flange 35 and also spaced upwardly from the flange 30 of the annular part I2, so as to provide annular air inlet passages 40 and 4I leading to the ports 38. Between the plates 29 and 36 is provided an annular filtering member 42, such as felt or the like, for filtering the air passing to the air admission chamber 31. Also between the plates 29 and 36, and around the central portions thereof, is located an annular sealing ring 43 which may be made of rubber or the like. All these parts are clamped together by way of the clamping bolts I4 (see Figs. 5, 6 and '1).

The platen 29 has air inlet valve means 44 for admitting air from the annular air chamber 31 to the space between the piston and the platen 29. Also the platen 29 has outlet ports 45 controlled by a suitable spring pressed valve 45a for discharge of fluid under pressure into the discharge passage 46 within the sealing ring 43 and the discharge passage 41 formed in the plate 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, and thence to the pressure fluid chamber 48 in the upper part I3 of the pump.

The passage of air is by way of passages 4I and 49, ports 38, filter 42, airadmission chamber 31, inlet valves 44, thence when compressed the air passes through the outlet valve ports 45, valve 45, passages 46 and 41, and into the pressure fluid chamber 48. To one of the pumps (such as that shown to the left in Fig. 5) is connected a pressure gage 49 which is in communication with the chamber 48 of that pump, and to the other pump is connected a discharge valve 50 which is in communication with the chamber 48 of the latter pump. The pressure uid passes from one chamber 48 to the other by way of the common duct I5.

I The motor 9 has a shaft 5I (see Fig. 8) having both of its end portions 52 extending freely out of and from both ends of the motor. The shaft rotates only in the bearings usually provided for it in the motor itself, and the free end portions 52 extend freely through the hubs Il) and II of the motor housing, that is, without any contactvthe'rewith. T he free end shaft portions 52 are tapered. Eccentrics 53 arey secured to these tapered portions by way of keys 54 and clamping nuts 55 screwed on the threaded ends 56 of the shaft, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Around each eccentric 53 and suitably connected thereto is a ball bearing device 51. This device 51 also fits into the eccentric strap 58 formed at the end of the connecting rod 33.

Fans 59 are preferably secured at the ends of the motor shaft. In the illustrative embodiment, these fans are formed integral with the eccentrics 53 and comprise back plates 69 and blades 6I.

It will be noted that the inner ends of the eccentrics 53 are spaced from the outer ends of Athe hubs II and also from the mounting hubs 6, so that there is no possibility of the eccentrics jamming against these hubs and thus causing a bending of the shaft end portions whereby the latter would break. The pump operating parts are thus free.

The device is enclosed in a casing 62 which may be of sheet metal o'r other material. The casing comprises a curved top 63, inclined side walls 64 with basal border portions 65, and upright end walls 66 with basal border portions 61, the portions 65 and 61 forming the lower rim of the housing. The opening in the lower part of the casing is preferably closed by a bottom wall 68, also of sheet metal or other material. This wall or plate 68 has downwardly extending side flanges 69 and end flanges 10, so as to form a closure rim over which the basal portions 65 and 61 of the casings will have a sliding fit, the plate 68 with its side and end flanges 69 and 10 thus forming a closure for the lower open end of the casing;

The end walls 66 of the casing 62 are provided with louvre type of air inlets 13, which are located opposite and near the fans 59 for direct admission of air to the fans (see Figs. 1 and 5). The latter force the air radially for circulation in the casing around and about the motor and the pumps and other parts of the unitary -structure to cool them. The side walls 64 of the casing 62 are provided with louvre type of air outlets 14 which are located opposite the pumps (see Figs. 2, 6 and '1). The air is circulated substantially as 'shown by the arrows in Figs. 4, 6 and 7.

The top 63 of the casing 62 has apertured portions which are clamped between the nuts or collars 23 and the shouldered portions of the sleeves 22 in the handle sockets I9 (see Fig. 5). Also the top 63 has openings through which the gage 49 and the discharge valvev 50 may extend or pass, as shown in Fig. 5.

By attaching the casing to the handle, as described, the casing can be raised with the handle unit, the basal portions 65 and 61 of the casing will slidev off of the lower closurejfianges 69 and 'I0 of the base or closure plate 58. Conversely, when lowering the casing, the basal portions 65 and 61 will slidably t over the flanges 69 and 10.

The base or closure plate 68 also has suitably apertured portions which are clamped between the resilient feet 4 and the bases 3 of the sup- Electric current for the motor passes through a cable 1I held in a clip 12 or the like secured to the under side of the bottom plate 88 and running through a suitable hole in the plate 68 to the motor 9.

To the duct I5, between the pumps, is .connected a safety relief valve 15.

By referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the parts are assembled and connected together by moving the standards l toward and to the motor for engagement of the motor housing hubs Il in the mountings 6 of the standards, and to securely clamp the hubs I I .and 5 rigidly together. At the saine` time, the ends of the tube I5 pass through the gland nuts I1 and enter into the packing sockets I6 of the pumps. I`| are thenthreaded into place in the sockets I6 and the ends of the tube I5, thus secured to the pump. This securing is effected after vthe standards have been rigidly secured to the motor soA that when the tube I5 is secured to the pumps there is no canting of the standards nor any force acting to tend to force the standards out of true. In other Words, the tube I5 and the motor 9 act as rigid connecting links to the pumpstandard elements-of the unit.

WhileI I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but comprehends other constructions, details, arrangements of parts, features and the like, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim as my invention:

1. A fluid compressor comprising spaced supporting standards having basal supporting feet and intermediate mounting hubs, pumps rigidly mounted on said standards and comprising pis- The gland nuts and discharge chambers, a fluid duct between and connected to said discharge chambers to form a rigid reinforcing part thereof, a motor having a housing provided with hubs for fitting in said mounting hubs, means for securing said motor housing hubs in said mounting hubs, said motor with its housing and hubs, said' supporting standards with their mounting hubs, said pumps, and said duct, all being rigidly secured together and constituting a rigid unitary structure, said motor comprising a shaft having free end portions rotatably supported in said motor housing and freely extending exteriorly beyond the same and said mounting hubs, means connected to said free end portions of said shaft and to said connecting. rods for freely .reciprocating said rods when said shaft rotates, fans secured to the ends of said shaft exteriorly of said standards for circulating air around said unitary structure, and a handle secured at its ends to said pumps to form a rigid reinforcing part of said unitary structure land for portability of said unitary structure.

3. A fluidcompressor comprising spaced supporting standards having basal supporting feet 'and intermediate mountinghubs, pumps rigidly mounted on said standards .and comprising pistons with connecting rods and fluid admission tons with connecting rods and fluid admission i and discharge chambers, a fluid duct between and connected to said discharge chambers to form a rigid reinforcing part thereof, a motor having a housing provided with hubs for fitting in said mounting hubs, means for securing said motor housing hubs in said mounting hubs, said motor with its housing and hubs, said supporting standards with their mounting hubs, said pumps, and said duct, all being rigidly secured together and constituting a rigid unitary structure, said motor comprising a shaft having free end portions rotatably supported in said motor housing and freely extending exteriorly beyond the same and said mounting hubs, means connected to said free end portions of said shaft and to said connecting rods for freely reciprocating said rods when said shaft rotates.

2. A-fluid compressor comprising spaced supporting standardsy having basal supporting feet mounted on said standards and comprising pisand intermediate mounting hubs, pumps rigidly and discharge chambers, a fluid duct between and connected to said discharge chambers ,to

form a rigid reinforcing part thereof, a motor having a housing .provided With hubs for fitting in said mounting hubs, means for securingsaid motor housing hubs in said mounting hubs, said motor with its housing and hubs, said supporting standards with their mounting hubs, said pumps,

and said duct, all being rigidly secured together and constituting a rigid unitary structure, said motor comprising a shaft having free end portions rotatably supported in said motor housing and freely extending exteriorly beyond the same and said mounting hubs, means connected to said free end portions of said shaft and to said connecting rods for freely reciprocating said rods 4when said shaft rotates, fans secured to the ends of said shaft exteriorly of said standards for circulating air around said unitary structure, and a casing secured to said unitary structure to form a rigid part thereof and having upper, side and end walls for enclosing said unitary structure, said casing having -air-inlet openings in said end walls near said fans and having air outlet openings in said side walls near said pumps.

4. A fluid compressor comprising spaced supporting standards having basal supporting feet and intermediate mounting hubs, pumps rigidly mounted on said standards and comprising pistons with connecting rods and fluid admissiony and discharge chambers, a fluid duct between and connected'to said discharge chambers to form a rigid reinforcing part thereof, a motor having a housing provided with hubs for fitting in said mounting hubs, means for securing said motor housing hubs in said mounting hubs, said motor with its housing and'hubs. said supporting standards with their mounting hubs, said pumps, and saidduct, all being rigidly secured together and constituting a rigid unitary structure, said motor comprising a shaft having free end'portions rotatably supported in said motor housing and freely extending exteriorly beyond the same andsaid mounting hubs, eccentrics secured to the free' endportions of said shaft and rotatably connected to said connecting rods, fans secured to the ends of said shaft exteriorly of said standards for circulating air around said unitary structure, and a casing secured to said unitary structure to form a rigid part thereof, and having upper, side and end walls for enclosing said unitary structure, said casing having air inlet openings in said end walls near said fans and having air outlet openings in' said side walls near said pump.

5. A housed portable fluid compressor having a motor driven pump means comprising a base closure member secured to the lower part of the pump means and having a perimetral closure rirn, a housing for enclosing the pump means and having a closure rim at its lower open end to slidably fit with said perimetral closure rim, and a handle secured to the upper part of the pump means and to the upper, part of said housing whereby said pump means, handle, base closure member and housing form a rigid unitary structure.

6. A housed portable fluid compressor having a motor driven pump means comprising a base closure member secured to the lower part of the pump means and having a perimetral closure rim, a housing for enclosing the pump means and having a closure rim at its lower open end to slidably fit with said perimetral closure rim, and a handle secured to the upper part of the pump means and to the upper part of said housing whereby said pump means, handle, base closure member and housing form a rigid unitary structure, said housing having air inlet means at the ends thereof, and air outlet means at the side walls thereof.

7. A housed portable fluid compressor having a motor driven pump means comprising a base closure member secured to the lower part of the pump means and having a perimetral closure rim, a housing for enclosing the pump means and having a closure rim at its lower open end to slidably fit with said perimetral closure rim, and a handle secured to the upper part of the pump Vmeans and to the upper part of said housing whereby said pump means, handle, base closure member and housing form a rigid unitary structure, said housing having air inlet louver means at the lower portions of the end walls of the housing, and air outlet louver means at the upper portions of the side walls of the housing.

8. A housed portable fluid compressor having a motor driven pump means comprising a base closure member secured to the lower part of the pump means and having a perimetral closure rim, a housing for enclosing the pump means and having a closure rim at its lower open end to slidably fit with said perimetral closure rim, and a handle secured to the upper part of the pump means and to the upper part of said housing whereby said pump means, handle, base closure member and housing form a rigid unitary structure, a handle secured to the upper part of said housing to form therewith a rigid unit for sliding the housing over the pump means and with the closure rim at the lower open end of the housing into closing position with said perimetral closure rim, and means for securing the handle to the pump means to form therewith a rigid unitary portable structure.

9. A fluid compressor structure comprising a base, spaced upright supports fixed attheir lower ends to the base, pumps fixed to the upper ends of said supports, a compressed fluid duct secured to said pumps, a motor suspended between and by said supports, said motor having a shaft which has free end portions extending beyond the supports, operative means connected to said free end portions of the shaft and to said pumps, and fans secured to the ends of said free end portions of the shaft for directing cooling air against and around said motor and said pumps.

10. A iluid compressor structure comprising a base, spaced upright supports fixed at their lower ends to the base, pumps fixed to the upper ends of said supports, a compressed fluid duct secured to said pumps, a motor suspended between and by said supports, said motor having a shaft which has free end portions extending beyond the supports,` operative means connected to said free end portions of the shaft and to said pumps, and fans secured to the ends of said free end portions of the shaft for directing cooling air against and around said motor and said pumps, a handle secured to said pumps and above said duct, and a casing secured to said handle and extending over and around said structure for enclosing the same.

l1. A fluid compressor structure comprising a base, spaced upright supports iixed at their lower ends to the base, pumps xed to the upper ends of said supports, a compressed uid duct secured to said pumps, a motor suspended between and by said supports, said motor having a shaft which has free end portions extending beyond the supports, operative means connected to said free end portions of the shaft and to said pumps, and fans secured to the ends of said free end portions of the shaft pumps, a handle secured to said pumps and above said duct, and a casing secured to said handle and extending over and around said structure for enclosing the same, said casing having air inlet openings at the ends of the structure and adjacent said fans, and having outlets at the sides of the structure and remote from said fans.

12. A fluid compressor comprising a base, spaced upright supports .fixed at their lower ends to said base, pumps fixed to the upper ends of said supports. a iiuid duct for a motor suspended between said supports and spacedly above said base, said motor having a housing provided with end portions extending through openings provided in said supports, clamping means carried by said supports for clamping said end portions of said motor housing, said motor having a shaft rotatable in said motor housing and having free end portions extending beyond said supports, operative means connected to said free end portions of the shaft and to said pumps, and fans secured to the ends of said free end portions of the shaft to direct cooling air against and around said motor and said pumps.

AUGUST J. LOTZ. 

